China takes further steps to ensure people's livelihoods

The local leadership members deliver rice and cooking oil to people in need after a heavy snow hits Fangxiang Township, Leishan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province on Dec. 26, 2021. [Photo/visual.people.cn]

China is ramping up efforts to make people's lives easier. Tang Chengpei, vice-minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, said at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office on June 17, that the ministry requires local governments to hand out subsidies to people who are experiencing basic living difficulties.

The ministries of civil affairs and finances have allocated 154.68 billion yuan of subsidies this year to aid people in need, an increase of about 7 billion yuan year-on-year.

From January to March, China has paid out 46.21 billion yuan in subsistence allowance and 12.24 billion yuan in extreme poverty aid.

For the first quarter this year, about 1.38 million people nationwide struggling to make ends meet due to the epidemic received about 390 million yuan in subsidies.